Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 36, inclusive, together.

The first meeting of the new Cabinet committee on infrastructure took place on Monday, 24 March, and the next one will take place on Monday, 28 April. Membership of the Cabinet committee consists of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Minister for Finance, Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and for Transport, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Note the long titles of all Ministries. With the constitutional prohibition, we are not expecting any more but there is a lot of activity being covered by individual Ministries. That is just on reflection.

The committee will oversee programme for Government commitments in relation to infrastructure delivery and reflects the importance this Government is placing on the delivery of infrastructure as the key enabler for regional development, economic development, delivering on our housing commitments, meeting social needs and meeting our climate objectives. A significant measure is the establishment of a dedicated infrastructure division in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. This new division will work with stakeholders on strategic project selection and prioritisation, aligned with national priorities and making maximum use of resources. It will develop a sustainable pipeline of projects to support delivery of the ambition under the national development plan. The new division will provide oversight, co-ordination and expertise across Government to remove barriers, break down silos and ensure infrastructure projects are delivered on time and on budget.

One of the first tasks of the Cabinet committee is the oversight of the review process for the national development plan, which is now under way and will be completed by the summer. The review will focus on major projects to meet our overall priorities, namely housing provision, energy, water, transport and health digitalisation, ensuing we are investing in programmes which will truly support economic and social development. The committee will also oversee the progress of large and strategic projects in these priority areas, such as MetroLink and the various road and other active travel projects, many of which are well under way across the country.

While large-scale transport infrastructure will be overseen by the infrastructure Cabinet committee, transport issues may also arise in other Cabinet committees, given their relevance to various policy areas, for example, the economy and climate action. Formal decisions in relation to infrastructure issues will, of course, continue to be made at full Government meetings.

See this speech in context